A Sneak Peak at The Taco Truck Restaurant in Cambridge

The inside of the new Taco Truck brick and mortar location in Cambridge. Photo by Chelsea Kyle.

The slew of food trucks turning brick and mortar (Bon Me, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Mei Mei Street Kitchen) continues on May 31 when The Taco Truck opens its first restaurant in Massachusetts. Located on Mount Auburn Street in Harvard Square, the new 1,400-square-foot space has been designed with sustainability in mind. All the appliances are energy-efficient, the walls are adorned in reclaimed wood, restrooms are equipped with dual flush toilets, to-go packaging is made from biodegradable materials, and food waste will be recycled in an ambitious composting program.

“In a world where people are taking more care to understand the companies behind the food, we think we lend ourselves really well to the Cambridge spirit,” says Greg Vasey, operating partner in Boston. “We’re highly focused on sustainability, we compost, we have LED lighting, we’re maniacal about energy efficiency. As a concept, it’s one that I think the average customer in Cambridge will have a great deal of respect for. It won’t be just great food. It’ll be a great overall customer experience.”

Much of the menu remains the same at the new storefront, with a full range of tacos, tortas, salads, and soups, but they’ll also be rotating in seasonal specials based on what’s available locally. One permanent addition though will be their Elotes—corn on the cob served with mayo, queso, chile piquin, and lime juice—a wildly popular item once offered only in the summer months.

A wall mural by Brooklyn-based artist Beau Stanton celebrating the rich history of Harvard Square. Photo by Chelsea Kyle

The restaurant will continue to only use beef, chicken, and pork products raised on a vegetarian diet without hormones or antibiotics. The Taco Truck is also focused on using local purveyors whenever possible, with tortillas from Tortilleria La Nina in Everett.

The interior seats 40 people and the landlord of the space, along with the Harvard Square Business Association, has just finalized discussions on expanding the sidewalks all along Mount Auburn Street. After construction is complete in June, The Taco Truck will erect an outdoor patio to accommodate outdoor dining.

Although this is The Taco Truck’s third U.S. brick and mortar location (there are two in New Jersey), Vasey says the contemporary Cambridge spot will be the model for any future expansion. “This is the design platform will be basing any of our prospective restaurants. It exudes the attitude and the ideals The Taco Truck wants to represent.”

The Mount Auburn location will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

THE TACO TRUCK MENU

Harvard Square, 83 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge; 857-829-3904 or thetacotruck.com.